Test drove Mazda3, Nice.

[GTaudiophile]

An AWD and/or MazdaSpeed "3" might be nice...

 

[Pocatello]

Originally posted by: GTaudiophile
An AWD and/or MazdaSpeed "3" might be nice...

Is that on the drawing board? I'm waiting for the next Subaru Legacy. My parents have a 1990 Legacy sedan, and it's still running strong after some 200K miles.

 

[OS]

Different classes of cars tend to have higher quality standards and build materials. Things like, the accord uses thicker sheetmetal than the civic. I've also torn apart the interior on my 2003 accord and my 2000 corolla and the difference in materials and attention to detail is very large. For example, the corolla used alot of electrical tape in the hiring harnesses, and it was already coming apart after 3 years or so where as the accord used some kind of bonded wrap which was much higher quality.

I don't know if that is the case for the mazdas, but all else equal, I would rather have the larger car than the smaller one. Even if the cost was a little higher, I would rather have a basic larger car than a loaded small one. The cost cutting is quite evident in smaller car because of the econobox and cost cutting orientations.

 

[dxkj]

Originally posted by: OS
Different classes of cars tend to have higher quality standards and build materials. Things like, the accord uses thicker sheetmetal than the civic. I've also torn apart the interior on my 2003 accord and my 2000 corolla and the difference in materials and attention to detail is very large. For example, the corolla used alot of electrical tape in the hiring harnesses, and it was already coming apart after 3 years or so where as the accord used some kind of bonded wrap which was much higher quality.

I don't know if that is the case for the mazdas, but all else equal, I would rather have the larger car than the smaller one. Even if the cost was a little higher, I would rather have a basic larger car than a loaded small one. The cost cutting is quite evident in smaller car because of the econobox and cost cutting orientations.

Drive a Mazda 3 and then a mazda 6, see if you still feel the same way

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: dxkj

Originally posted by: OS
Different classes of cars tend to have higher quality standards and build materials. Things like, the accord uses thicker sheetmetal than the civic. I've also torn apart the interior on my 2003 accord and my 2000 corolla and the difference in materials and attention to detail is very large. For example, the corolla used alot of electrical tape in the hiring harnesses, and it was already coming apart after 3 years or so where as the accord used some kind of bonded wrap which was much higher quality.

I don't know if that is the case for the mazdas, but all else equal, I would rather have the larger car than the smaller one. Even if the cost was a little higher, I would rather have a basic larger car than a loaded small one. The cost cutting is quite evident in smaller car because of the econobox and cost cutting orientations.

Drive a Mazda 3 and then a mazda 6, see if you still feel the same way

Yeah, I don't know about you, but I thought that the interior of the 3 was of better quality than that of the 6. And the Mazda3 definitely rides and tracks excellently as well. The 3s I drove was just superb.

 

[dxkj]

Originally posted by: NFS4

Originally posted by: dxkj

Originally posted by: OS
Different classes of cars tend to have higher quality standards and build materials. Things like, the accord uses thicker sheetmetal than the civic. I've also torn apart the interior on my 2003 accord and my 2000 corolla and the difference in materials and attention to detail is very large. For example, the corolla used alot of electrical tape in the hiring harnesses, and it was already coming apart after 3 years or so where as the accord used some kind of bonded wrap which was much higher quality.

I don't know if that is the case for the mazdas, but all else equal, I would rather have the larger car than the smaller one. Even if the cost was a little higher, I would rather have a basic larger car than a loaded small one. The cost cutting is quite evident in smaller car because of the econobox and cost cutting orientations.

Drive a Mazda 3 and then a mazda 6, see if you still feel the same way

Yeah, I don't know about you, but I thought that the interior of the 3 was of better quality than that of the 6. And the Mazda3 definitely rides and tracks excellently as well. The 3s I drove was just superb.

We decided not to get leather but the leather one we checked out reminded me more of a luxury car than an econo-box

 

[slick230]

You know, I don't know about all of you people complaining about ABS. In normal, every day driving, I have NEVER had my ABS system activate. The only times it has ever been needed were in emergencies. To read the way some of you are talking it seems like you are ALWAYS having the ABS activate, which leads me to believe that you either don't know how to drive or you drive like assholes. Now, if you are referring to the ABS kicking in if you are the type to take your car autocrossing or something like that, I can understand. But somehow I just think a lot of you are driving like assholes.

 

[SuperTool]

Originally posted by: NFS4

Originally posted by: dxkj

Originally posted by: NFS4
I just priced a Mazda 3s sedan:

4-speed auto
ABS package
Sport package

$18,665 including destination fee. I'll most likely be getting on in the fall after the rebates and incentives come out. Mazda already has a $2,500 cash rebate on their other models.

Heh, wish I could wait for that but having no car right now has its disadvantages.

Yeah that's true. I have a '95 Camry LE that has 140,000 miles on it and has been practically trouble free. It pains me to have to pick up car payments again by going to a new car, but I don't want to keep this car forever.

I am thinking about trading the 96 Maxima (130K) for the 3. But the question that comes to my mind, is the 3 that much better to pick up a car payment

 

[CraigRT]

I took out a candy-apple red metallic flake colored Mazda 3 GT hatchback.. I want it!

I loved the car, the only problem was just like any other Japanese econo car, ZERO torque in the lower RPM range... and the shifter I thought felt like ass too.. but It was a really nice car otherwise!

I might investigate further.. I could see myself owning one for sure!